The Cat in the Bag 1964 Claude is a young Quebecois journalist living in Montreal Hes alienated and unhappy with contemporary society he cant change it and at the same time he doesnt want to simply compromise and accept it the way it is It bothers him that his anglophone, Jewish girlfriend Barbara is less philosophical than he is and is more concerned with her theater career than sharing his concerns about social issues The tension with Barbara and conflicts with his editors causes Claude to leave the city and travel to a remote cabin in the countryside There he reflects on his predicament and in his isolation he finds his ties to Barbara gradually loosening